Where do you find your models?
 

I'm not sure if this is in the right forum but someone can move it if it is not...

I'm reading Queen Bee Wanna Be right now, and it discusses many aspects of adolescent females...one of the things is that many minority girls have a difficult time finding women to relate to in all the teen/adult magazines - most are geared towards white women...or light skinned minorities. The look everyone should have is to be blond, blue eyed and skinny, or if you are a minority you should be light skinned and look like Halle Berry. It is an issue that all young girls face today - knowing that everyone cannot be beautiful and learning to be comfortable in their own skin and with their own bodies...

I guess my question is what are good resources for minority girls to look at as far as magazines, make-up, trends, etc go? I'll be working with this population, and would like to have more insight into ways to help them become more confident in who they are on their own (not on a stereotypical media image), and would like to be able to offer suggestions about where to go. Any suggestions?

I didn't really care what the girls ethnic background is. I looked at magazines for clothes, and when it came to make-up, my mom took me to a counter when I was 15 and the ladies there gave me advice. In terms of clothes, I'd try things on at stores and decide if it looked good or not. I didn't need to have an Asian model in a magazine to boost my self esteem or anything. As far as trends, I was never really into what the Chinese girls in my class were wearing. They were really into the hip stuff at a very early age. I was GAP/Jacob (Canadian clothing line for women. Mostly classics and stuff like that)

To answer your question, from a Black woman's point of view, Essence Magazine, in my opinion is one of the most positively influential magazine for young Black women and girls. They feature beautiful Black models that are from a host of backgrounds and who have a variety of skin tones and hair textures. I have been an avid reader of Essence since I was a little girl and my mother has subscribed to Essence all if her life.

I have noticed a lot of people, mainly Whites, who ask why the need for magazines that feautre Black models, using the same thought pattern as some people who ask why the need for Black sororities, fraternities, orgs, etc. when there is no longer forced segregation or the blatant overlooking of Black women and people in mainstream media. Well my response to that, with regard to the modeling industry and particularly magazines, and I guess in light of what Taualumna mentioned about her not caring what ethnicity the model is, is that for some, if not many, it does matter. For most of American history Black women largley were not placed in magazines to model or be what American women were to look at as beautiful, with the exception of some scattered features like Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horn, Dianne Carrol and the like. It DOES do something to the psyche of young women when you don't really see yourself in your own society featured as beautiful.

Now, this is my opinion and I am sure there may be some Black women who are very confident who may not share my view. I also am not saying that I am not confident or that my confidence level is determined by what mainstream America forces down peoples' throats as what is acceptable, beautiful, etc. I am simply answering your question as a Black woman having grown up identifying with the things you mentioned in your question. I do think its great that you are attempting to gain insight into this portion of society and wish you luck as you work with young people.

Here is a link to the Essence website.
http://www.essence.com/essence/

Is there a difference, they all try to show Beautiful Women! I did not show any color what so ever or dont think it should be mentioned!

Now, the point should be, how many normal people can wear these clothes that are fitted to them for Pictures!:(
Mention Dorothy, Lena, Shitney (She Can Be a Bitch), Vennesa, Halle and many others is not the point!

There beautiful women from all colors and those are the ones who we see in print and film media!

Not all are built like them, I know I am not built like the Perfecto Mono Man!:(